Method and apparatus for integrating and monitoring key digital cinema system components as a means to verify system integrity

Abstract

One or more embodiments of the invention provide a method, apparatus, system, and article of manufacture for monitoring components of a digital cinema system. A digital cinema system utilizes an exhibitor system (that has one or more components) to display media content. A configuration of the exhibitor system is stored in the exhibitor system. The integrity of the configuration is then determined by querying each of the components. Software agents on each of the components respond to the query. Based on the configuration and the responses received, the integrity of the exhibitor system is determined.

1. A method for monitoring components of a digital cinema system comprising:
 storing a configuration of a display entity of a digital cinema system, wherein the display entity comprises one or more components, wherein the one or more components comprise a satellite receiver, a network, a file server, a decryption unit, a decompression unit, and a smart card reader, and wherein the configuration comprises an identification and a placement or use management of the one or more components; 
 querying each of the one or more components based on the configuration; 
 receiving one or more responses to the query from one or more software agents on each of the one or more components; 
 determining whether an integrity of the display entity has been compromised based on the configuration and responses received. 
 
   
   
     2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein each component comprises a unique permanent unalterable identification that is one-time programmed during manufacture of the component. 
   
   
     3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein each response comprises the identification of each component queried. 
   
   
     4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising sending a copy of the configuration to a network operation center (NOC). 
   
   
     5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the copy of the configuration is sent to the NOC each time the configuration is modified. 
   
   
     6. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the copy of the configuration is sent to the NOC each time the exhibitor system is turned on. 
   
   
     7. The method of  claim 1  further comprising displaying an error message regarding the integrity of the display entity on a display of the display entity when it has been determined that the integrit. 
   
   
     8. The method of  claim 1  further comprising transmitting an error message regarding the integrity of the display entity to a network operation center (NOC) when it has been determined that the integrity of the display entity has been compromised. 
   
   
     9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the error message comprises the configuration and an identification for an inconsistent component detected during the determination. 
   
   
     10. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising delaying updating the configuration until a NOC response validating the inconsistent component is received from the NOC. 
   
   
     11. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the error message indicates an internet protocol (IP) address of an inconsistent component detected during the determination. 
   
   
     12. The method of  claim 1 , wherein a member component database comprising the configuration is set up during configuration of the display entity. 
   
   
     13. The method of  claim 1 , wherein strong authentication is required to control read/write access to the configuration. 
   
   
     14. The method of  claim 1  wherein the integrity of the display entity is valid and not compromised if all of the responses are consistent with the configuration. 
   
   
     15. A system for monitoring components of a digital cinema system comprising:
 a display entity of a digital cinema system comprising one or more components and a memory, wherein the one or more components comprise a satellite receiver, a network, a file server, a decryption unit, a decompression unit, and a smart card reader; and 
 a configuration of the display entity stored in the memory, wherein the configuration comprises an identification and a placement or use management of the one or more components; 
 wherein the display entity is configured to:
 query each of the one or more components based on the configuration; 
 receive one or more responses to the query from one or more software agents on each of the one or more components; 
 determine whether an integrity of the display entity has been compromised based on the configuration and responses received. 
 
 
   
   
     16. The system of  claim 15 , wherein each component comprises a unique permanent unalterable identification that is one-time programmed during manufacture of the component. 
   
   
     17. The system of  claim 16 , wherein each response comprises the identification of each component queried. 
   
   
     18. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the exhibitor system is further configured to send a copy of the configuration to a network operation center (NOC). 
   
   
     19. The system of  claim 18 , wherein the copy of the configuration is sent to the NOC each time the configuration is modified. 
   
   
     20. The system of  claim 18 , wherein the copy of the configuration is sent to the NOC each time the display entity is turned on. 
   
   
     21. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the display entity further comprises a display, and wherein the display entity is further configured to display an error message regarding the integrity of the display entity on the display when it has been determined that the integrity of the display entity has been compromised. 
   
   
     22. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the display entity is further configured to transmit an error message regarding the integrity of the display entity to a network operation center (NOC) when it has been determined that the integrity of the display entity has been compromised. 
   
   
     23. The system of  claim 22 , wherein the error message comprises the configuration and an identification for an inconsistent component detected during the determination. 
   
   
     24. The system of  claim 23 , wherein the display entity is further configured to delay updating the configuration until a NOC response validating the inconsistent component is received from the NOC. 
   
   
     25. The system of  claim 22 , wherein the error message indicates an internet protocol (IP) address of an inconsistent component detected during the determination. 
   
   
     26. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the display entity further comprises a member component database that stores the configuration and is set up during configuration of the display entity. 
   
   
     27. The system of  claim 15 , wherein strong authentication is required to control read/write access to the configuration. 
   
   
     28. The system of  claim 15  wherein the integrity of the display entity is valid and not compromised if all of the responses are consistent with the configuration.